KFLCC Kingdom Economics

Parabolic Principles of Financial Growth and Blessing

Another problem was high taxes. At various times throughout history—and especially under the Roman empire—taxes and other duties caused a heavy burden on the citizens. Many of these same challenges are still present over two thousand years later. Drought, floods, war, pestilence, and civil disruptions are still occurring around the world and causing heartache and economic troubles in the areas where they occur. We cannot stop an earthquake, a tornado, or a hurricane from striking. We cannot keep floods from washing away farmland and property. In some nations, war and civil disobedience (as we have seen in Greece) cause more economic crisis, especially for local business owners. Just ask those business owners who lost weeks of income or dealt with property damage during the “occupy Wall Street” protests. In the gospels, Christ told the story of a vineyard, which can be viewed as a parable with practical application for our own financial and business success. I call these practical applications “parabolic principles of success in finance and business.” T HE S TORY C ONCEALED IN P ARABLES In Matthew 20:1, Christ compared the kingdom of heaven to workers being hired in a vineyard: For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder; which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. The listener was certainly aware of life in a vineyard, as vineyards were (and still are) a part of the agriculture in Israel. The Jewish audience would have been familiar with the concept of hiring workers to labor in a vineyard; thus the comparison of the kingdom of heaven with a person who hired workers and gave them a specific wage for their labor. The one parable that reveals some insight into the parallels between caring for a vineyard and being successful in both business and life is found in Luke 13:6-9. In this parable a fig tree is planted within a vineyard: He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it

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